Orange County's hottest arrivals in shopping, nightlife, dining, entertainment, attractions, museums, theater, culture, sports and recreation. MAPS of Orange County

SHOPPING
Watch out!
Rolex opens its first boutique in the United States at South Coast Plaza; it's modeled after Rolex stores in Beijing, Geneva, Rome and Tokyo. Also new at the center is Intermix, offering smaller fashion-forward labels such as LaRok, Mint and Ya Ya alongside those of Chloé and Michael Kors—from bags and boots to denim and dresses. New AG Adriano Goldschmied is inspired by vintage jeans. Calvin Klein features its White Label apparel for men and women and a new line called Calvin Klein Exclusives. Red carpet baubler Harry Winston offers his dramatic diamond designs and more near—where else?—Jewel Court.

ART
Bright Lights
Las Vegas Diaspora: The Emergence of Contemporary Art From the Neon Homeland comes to Laguna Art Museum direct from its premiere at the Las Vegas Museum of Art. Organized by art critic and curator Dave Hickey, the exhibition celebrates the work of 26 artists who graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and were students of Hickey's, who taught art theory and criticism at UNLV until 2001.

MUSICALS
REAPPEARS
The Phantom of the Opera, the longest-running show in Broadway history, returns to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa March 26–April 19. The Andrew Lloyd Webber phenomenon, directed by Harold Prince, has woven its spell over audiences in more than 100 cities worldwide; the Sunday Times in London called it "God's gift to the musical theater." The timeless story of seduction and despair is told through such melodies as "Music of the Night."

SPAS
Ommm-igosh!
The new Zen Water Experience at Skin Deep in Huntington Beach includes trickling waterfalls, a warm rain, mud purifiers and mineral baths. On most days, it's coed, so bathing suits are required; your Zen Guide takes you safely and serenely from one Portal Enclosure to the next. Start with a gentle cleansing under light rain showers that can accommodate two people; you apply a Golden Moor body scrub. Apply detoxifying Golden Moor Mud in the Mud Room, then step into the spacious Steam Room for about 10 minutes. Refresh in the Cascade Cleanse shower, then submerge yourself in the mineral-rich "hot spring" bath.

VIDEO ARTS
PAST PERFECT
The Imaginary 20th Century, through April 27 at the Orange Lounge, the Orange County Museum of Art's video arts satellite at South Coast Plaza, is a collaborative project involving a curator, author, artists and composers. The work of historical science fiction is an interactive installation, book and DVD-ROM including 2,200 images; it involves the adventures of a woman in 1901 who has four suitors, each with his own vision for the new century.

MUSEUMS
WARRIORS ON ROAD
The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana presents Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor, the largest loan of terra cotta figures to ever travel to the U.S. from the tomb complex of China's first emperor, Shi Huangdi (259–210 B.C.). Considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the first emperor's mausoleum features thousands of terra cotta warriors that were intended to protect him throughout eternity. The exhibition opens May 18 and will be on view during the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

DANCE
Revelations
Alvin Ailey was one of the giants of American dance, and his company is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater programs combine popular music, gospel and jazz, and fuse modern dance and ballet; the troupe features 30 dancers. Highlights of programs March 11–16 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center include Ailey's most famous work, Revelations, a celebration of the gospel and spiritual music of the 1930s.

SHOPPING
BATHING BEAUTIES
For more than 30 years, Vilebrequin has created stylish men's and boys' swim trunks featuring vibrant and colorful patterns including bananas, pastries, kangaroos and octopi. The choice of Hollywood elite from Jack Nicholson to Tom Cruise, the French-based company recently opened at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. Matching father-and-son sets are popular. And for the pastry- and octopus-wary, there are swim trunks in classic solids, stripes and gingham. Vilebrequin also carries linen shirts and pants, T-shirts, sweaters, pants and shorts; accessories include caps and sunglasses. p. 86

DINING
Golden Rules
James Hamamori of Wasa Sushi unveils Hamamori, a sparkling white and off-white environment full of undulating curves overlooking Bear Street at South Coast Plaza. One wall resembles a horizontal curtain; behind the rich wood sushi bar are accents of bamboo and silver. The gold, however, is on the plate, figuratively and literally: Star of the show is foie gras "Ankimo-style" with osetra caviar, garlic ponzu and edible gold flakes, served in a stunning dish with a gold dragon-inspired motif and tasting as luxurious as it sounds. Fun fare: rice cracker–coated jumbo asparagus sprinkled with yuzu sea salt. Seriously good: truffle-infused sea bream with immaculately carved mountain vegetables, and the tenderest tamari-marinated black cod.

OPERA
OH, SUSANNAH!
An all-American folk opera of raw emotional power, Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, presented May 14–24 by Opera Pacific at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, is set in rural, Depression-era Tennessee. Based on the apocryphal story of Susannah and the Elders, it is a poignant story of a girl's life and dreams shattered by bigotry, zealotry and the abuse of power. Floyd's 1955 score is inspired by folk songs and dances and revival tunes. The vibrant heartland sets and costumes recall the muscular Americana of Thomas Hart Benton paintings.

PERFORMING ARTS
Off Center Intimate Samueli Theater, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center's Segerstrom Concert Hall, offers provocative programming in its new Off Center series. Canada's Old Trout Puppet Workshop, March 20–22, may cure audiences of any fear of death they have with Famous Puppet Death Scenes. Toronto's Globe and Mail called the show "a wonderfully innovative delight." More puppets take the stage May 2–4 when, using almost lifelike puppets with magnificent faces, master storyteller Matthias Kuchta interprets Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Drawing comparisons as diverse as the White Stripes and Flannery O'Connor, the Fullerton-based Cold War Kids perform March 27. The indie band got buzz in 2006 with its first album, Robbers & Cowards. Reviewing the release, Rolling Stone glowed that the Kids "channel the gothic spirit of the Deep South—at least as imagined by dudes from California."